Wednesday, April 30th

#MSPtweeps — @DanaWessel

by Maggie LaMaack

#MSPtweeps is a weekly interview series featuring some of the best and brightest Twin Cities tweeters; the ones who continually make us LOL and OMG!

Dana Wessel (@DanaWessel) is the bandana-wearing producer of the @963KTWIN Morning Show. He probably doesn’t wear the bandanas to KTWIN, but he wears them everywhere else. He also once met P Diddy/Puff Daddy/Diddy in a bathroom.

LOL/OMG: When and why did you join Twitter?

DW: I joined sometime in the fall of 2009. I held off for a long time because I am one of those people that scoffs at anything where I didn’t get in on the ground floor. I finally caved when someone pointed out how easy it was to get soccer lineups the second they come out.

Not much of a fan, I have only tweeted 57,905 times in less than 5 years. Woof. Get a life, bro.

LOL/OMG: What is the best thing and the worst thing about Twitter?

DW: My favorite thing about Twitter — and the thing that keeps me coming back — is the relationships and friendships I have made with so many cool, amazing, interesting people. Sure, it is an invaluable tool for monitoring breaking news, but there are tons of news sources in 2014. What makes Twitter so much fun for me is the humor and the daily ballbusting. It is a sarcastic playground where wit is king. I love comedy, and Twitter is a great vehicle for it.

I have made friendships on Twitter that will definitely outlast the medium itself. My girlfriend @heatherbalgaard and I met for the first time after she asked me out via direct message. I have gone to the weddings of friends I probably wouldn’t have met if it weren’t for Twitter. Some people may see this as weird. I don’t. It is a cool thing that brings like-minded people together.

The only time it ever got awkward was at McGovern’s before a Springsteen show, @HumannTouch’s mom asked him if we went to college together. He had to say no, and then explain to his mother that he met the guy she was currently having beers with on the internet. Always a bit awkward.

The worst part? Easy. @Randball. The only thing bigger than his headshot on Page 2 of the Star Tribune is his ego and his collection of sensible sweaters.

LOL/OMG: Tell us something about yourself we wouldn’t know from following you on Twitter.

DW: Hmmmm. This is a tough one. I am a pretty open book on Twitter, and quite self-deprecating. I freely admit to seeing Pitch Perfect 70+ times. I also own a stuffed Scrooge McDuck from Duck Tales.

One thing I would say is that because I am constantly joking around and in ‘bit mode’ on Twitter, I come across as a happy-go-lucky goofball that never takes things seriously. I have worked very hard in my career and am very proud of how far I have come. Radio is a tough business. A business where jobs get cut, not added. People from Twitter that meet me are often surprised that I am capable of being serious, and am passionate about things other than Fast & Furious and the Hooters from Big Daddy.

LOL/OMG: You get to meet a lot of cool people working in radio. Who is the person you were most nervous/excited to meet? And did they live up to your expectations?

DW: One of the coolest/funniest meetings happened by accident. I was a 20-year old intern at KFAN in the fall of 2006. I was busy doing about five tasks for four different people and went to the bathroom. I was so flustered I had totally forgotten that Puff Daddy was in-studio at KDWB that day, so I paid no mind to the two huge bodyguards standing outside the bathroom. I literally just thought, “Those dudes are dressed alike and have in those secret service earpieces. Weird,” and walked into the bathroom.

Sure enough, there was His Puffiness standing at one of the urinals. I of course decide to be ‘that guy’ and take the one right next to him. That’s the move, right? You’d do the same in my shoes. We both handle our business (I finished first, despite him having a head start. Pretty sure he had been drinking). He walked up to the sink next to me and we make eye contact through the mirror. He is decked out in jewelry, sunglasses and a bright blue windsuit. He speaks.

Puff Daddy: “Sup?”

I then went to respond with a casual, but cool, “What’s up, Puffy?” but I remembered at the last second that he was currently going by Diddy. So my brain did that weird thing where you basically say half of each word. It came out like this:

Me: “What’s up Fiddy?”

It sounded like I said Fiddy…as in 50 Cent. Puff Daddy left that bathroom thinking my goofy, white, Abercrombie-polo-wearing ass thought he was 50 Cent. Sweet.

In hindsight, there wasn’t anything I could have possibly said that would have made Puff Daddy think I was cool. My only regret was not cornering him in the bathroom and demanding to know who killed Tupac. You KNOW he knows. You just know it.

LOL/OMG: That was maybe one of the best stories ever told on #MSPtweeps. You have 160 characters to write yourself a brand new bio. Go!

DW: I once watched an entire season of Sopranos in one sitting and broke up with a girl at Chilis. DM me if you’ll give me notes on my Weekend at Bernies III script.

LOL/OMG: Give us your top three of each:Local Twitter accounts:1.Tie @RandBallsStu/ @CSwamptown – These are two of the funniest people I know and I love bantering with them on a daily basis.
2. @APKrawczynski My favorite reporter in town. He always has the smart takes on everything. I read his tweets and think, “I wish I would have thought of that.”
3. @FlexLukos – His sense of humor mirrors mine. Wings, WWE, self-deprecating. He’s hilarious.

Non-local Twitter accounts:
1. @ChrissyTeigen – She is as funny as she is pretty — and she is very pretty. My most famous follower. I get pretty jazzed when she retweets me, Ill admit it.
2 @JohnSharkman – Mentor, friend, turn-up-the-volume-innovator. In Toronto, but never forgotten.
3 @Enterprisecares – I have had some fun with my former employer over the years. I need to bring that bit back.

LOL/OMG: How many bandanas do you own?

DW: I first read this as “How many bananas do you own?” I was quite confused. Currently? About half a bunch. 4 maybe? Why? Are your potassium levels low, Maggie? Is this your way of asking me to make you banana bread? I mean, I am going to Denver this weekend but I could probably get a loaf baked.

Ohhhhhh, bandanas. A lot. Probably like 50. My favorite place to get them is Tatters on Lyn/Lake. The mid-80s Bruce Springsteen style bandana is a fashion power move to drive the women, and the men, crazy with jealousy they can’t pull it off.